Crapemyrtle plant named ‘GAMAD VIII’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of crapemyrtle, ‘GAMAD VIII’, is provided. ‘GAMAD VIII’ is a  Lagerstroemia indica×Lagerstroemia fauriei  hybrid. The new variety is characterized by intermediate-size, upright growth habit, good mildew resistance, and earlier flowering with abundant pale pink flowers.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: ‘GAMAD VIII’is a crapemyrtle plant that is a Lagerstroemia hybrid.

Variety denomination: The new crapemyrtle plant claimed is of thevariety denominated ‘GAMAD VIII’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinctcultivar of the ornamental flowering shrub Lagerstroemiaindica×Lagerstroemia fauriei, commonly known as crapemyrtle, andhereafter referred to by the varietal denomination ‘GAMAD VIII’, asherein described and illustrated.

The new crapemyrtle originated from open-pollinated seed of ‘Pocomoke’,an unpatented seedling. ‘GAMAD VIII’ was selected from plants beinggrown in a cultivated area at Dearing, Ga. from these seeds. Theseedlings were planted in containers and selections were made for plantsbased on the following criteria: 1) intermediate, upright growth habit;2) good mildew resistance; 3) early flowering; and 4) flower color andquality. ‘GAMAD VIII’ was selected in 2002.

Asexual reproduction by traditional vegetative cuttings since 2003 atDearing, Ga. and in Athens, Ga. has shown that the distinguishingcharacteristics of this new crapemyrtle variety ‘GAMAD VIII’ are stableand reproduced true-to-type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new crapemyrtle plant variety ‘GAMAD VIII’ has not been observedunder all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following combination of traits of my new variety have beenrepeatedly observed at Dearing, Ga. and Athens, Ga., and are determinedto be the unique characteristics of the new crapemyrtle plant variety‘GAMAD VIII’:

-   -   1. Intermediate size; upright growing habit    -   2. Good mildew resistance    -   3. Earlier flowering in mid to late June (USDA Zone 7)    -   4. Abundant pale pink flowers

There were no intermediate-sized, pale pink flowering varieties ofcrapemyrtle available for comparison. ‘GAMAD VIII’ is smaller in habitthan the variety ‘Whit VIII’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,616). In addition,in comparison to the variety ‘Whit VIII’, my new variety has abundantpale pink flowers, is earlier flowering, and is more Cercosporaresistant. The parent of ‘GAMAD VIII’ is not currently available.However, this parent differed from ‘GAMAD VIII’ by being more compact inhabit and by having a deep pink to rose flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustrations show typical specimens infull bloom of the new variety ‘GAMAD VIII’. The colors are as nearlytrue as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of an eight year old plant of the new variety‘GAMAD VIII’.

FIG. 2 is a photograph more closely illustrating the flowers of the newvariety ‘GAMAD VIII’ plant of FIG. 1.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published byThe Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

The following is a detailed description of the botanical andhorticultural characteristics of the new variety ‘GAMAD VIII’. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations and averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The descriptions reported hereinare from specimen plants grown at Athens, Ga. Data were obtained insummer 2010 on plants that were 6 years old.

PLANT

-   Habit: Intermediate size, upright growing.-   Size:    -   -   Height.—130 cm.        -   Width.—92 cm.-   Branch density: Medium.

STEMS

-   Color: Brown RHS 200D in first year changing to Greyed-brown RHS    197A in the second year. Mature stem color is greyed-brown RHS 199A.-   Diameter: 3 mm.-   Pubescence: Observed along edges.-   Exfoliation: Strips.-   Shape: Squared.-   Pith:    -   -   Type.—Solid.        -   Diameter.—1 mm.        -   Color.—Green RHS 137D.-   Odor (of bruised stem): None.-   Lenticels: None.-   Internode length: 28 mm to 34 mm.

VEGETATIVE BUDS

-   Arrangement: Sub-opposite to alternate.-   Type: Imbricate, ovoid.-   Size:    -   -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.-   Scale number: 3.-   Scale color: Greyed-brown RHS 199D.-   Position/disposition: 30 degrees to stem.-   Number at node: 1.-   Pubescence: None.-   Shape: Ovoid to rounded.

LEAF SCAR

-   Shape: Raised half ellipse.-   Vascular bundle traces: None observed.-   Pubescence: None.-   Position of bud: Directly on top.-   Color: Green RHS 137A.-   Size:    -   -   Height.—1 mm.        -   Width.—2 mm.

TRUNK OR LARGE STEMS

-   Color: Grey-brown RHS 199C.-   Size of stem on which exfoliation begins: 16 mm, with some peeling    occurring.-   Diameter: 16 mm.-   Texture: Slightly exfoliating without any noted color difference.

LEAF

-   Color at emergence:    -   -   Upper leaf surface.—Yellow-green RHS 148A.        -   Lower leaf surface.—Yellow-green RHS 148B.-   Color during summer season (no appreciable fall color difference    noted):    -   -   Upper leaf surface.—Green RHS 137A.        -   Lower leaf surface.—Green RHS 138B.-   Mature size:    -   -   Length.—54 mm (on average).        -   Width.—26 mm (on average).-   Apex: Acuminate.-   Base: Acute.-   Margin: Entire.-   Shape: Obovate.-   Vein color: Green-purple RHS 183B.-   Pubescence: Finely hairy on entire upper leaf surface, only observed    along veins and midrib on lower surface.-   Arrangement on stem: Sub-opposite to alternate.-   Venation: Pinnate.-   Texture: Leathery.    -   -   Thickness.—0.5 mm thick.        -   Degree of waxiness of surfaces.—Moderately waxy.

PETIOLE

-   Length: 2.5 mm.-   Cross-sectional shape: Mostly rounded to semi-oval.-   Color: Greyed-purple RHS 183B on top and Red-purple RHS 59B    underneath.-   Pubescence: Finely hairy.-   Diameter: 1 mm.

FLOWER BUDS

-   Size:    -   -   Length.—6.5 mm.        -   Width.—5 mm.-   Color: Red-purple RHS 60A.-   Shape: Rounded.-   Pubescence: None.-   Time of full maturity: Mid to late June (USDA Zone 7).-   Time range for showiness: Approximately 9 to 11 weeks for buds and    flowers.

FLOWER

-   Inflorescences:    -   -   Type.—Paniculate.        -   Size.—Length: 9.5 cm. Width: 7.5 cm.        -   Color at emergence.—Red-purple RHS 62C.        -   Color at full bloom.—Red-purple RHS 65A.        -   Color at fading.—Red-purple RHS 69A.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Typical length 12.7 cm to 15.2 cm. Color:            Purple-red RHS 183D. Pubescence: Finely hairy along edges.            Individual flowers: Single, solitary, six petaled, width            typically about 19 mm to 38 mm, length typically about 19 mm            to 38 mm, held in a paniculate inflorescence.-   Petals:    -   -   Number.—6.        -   Size.—Length: 21 mm. Width: 14 mm.        -   Shape.—Fan-shaped.        -   Apex.—Ruffled, rounded.        -   Base.—Sagittate.        -   Margin.—Ruffled.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color at peak of bloom.—Upper surface: Red-purple RHS 65A.            Lower surface: Red-purple RHS 69B.        -   Pedicels.—Color: Greyed-purple RHS 185A. Pubescence: None.            Length: 6.5 mm. Flowers per Inflorescence: Typically            150-200.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES

-   Number: 6 (fertile); 20 to 30 (sterile).-   Pollen color: Yellow-orange RHS 14A.-   Pubescence: None.-   Anther:    -   -   Size.—(Both fertile and sterile). Length: 1.5 mm. Width: 1            mm.        -   Color.—Yellow RHS 13A (fertile); Yellow RHS 13A (sterile).-   Filament:    -   -   Size.—7 mm to 9 mm (fertile); 7 mm to 11 mm (sterile).        -   Color.—Yellow RHS 4B (fertile); Yellow RHS 4B (sterile).

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES

-   Pistil:    -   -   Size.—Length: 16 mm. Width: 0.5 mm.        -   Position.—Superior.        -   Pubescence.—None.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—Rounded.        -   Color.—Yellow-green RHS 148A.        -   Pubescence.—None.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—16 mm.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Color.—Greyed-yellow RHS 160B.        -   Pubescence.—None.-   Ovary:    -   -   Shape.—Oval to round.        -   Number.—One per flower.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Size (diameter).—2 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow RHS 3C.

FRUIT

-   Type: Dehiscent, six-valved capsule.-   Size:    -   -   Length.—8 mm.        -   Width.—6.5 mm.-   Color during ripening:    -   -   Early.—Greyed-orange RHS 165B at tip; about Yellow-green RHS            146C at base.        -   Mid.—Yellow-green RHS 146B.        -   Late.—Brown RHS 200B (before splitting); Greyed-orange RHS            165A (after seed dispersal).-   Shape: Broad-ellipsoidal.-   Number per infructescence: 80 to 90.-   Pubescence: None.-   Number of carpels: 6.-   Persistence (effective period): 3 months holding into winter in    Athens, Ga.

SEED

-   Shape: Oval-rounded.-   Size:    -   -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Width.—2.5 mm.-   Color: Brown RHS 200B (seed); about Greyed-orange RHS 164C (wing).-   Number per fruit: 15 to 30.-   Pubescence: None.

DISEASE RESISTANCE

Good resistance to powdery mildew and more resistant to Cercospora than‘Whit VIII’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,616 P2). The new variety is notcompletely resistant to mildew, but exhibits a higher resistance tomildew than some other cultivars.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of crapemyrtle plantnamed ‘GAMAD VIII’, substantially as illustrated and described herein.